The attorney for an Arkansas whistleblower has sent a letter to the state legislature claiming evidence that Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office manipulated a document linked to her purchase of a $19,000 podium, according to the Arkansas Times.
The whistleblower also claimed to have evidence that Sanders’ office ordered a state agency not to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request for documents that were not exempt from the law.
The documents were requested by attorney and blogger Matt Campbell, who blew the lid off what’s come to be known as Podiumgate.
Taxpayer funds used to buy the lectern were reimbursed by the state Republican Party on Sept. 14—the same day Sanders signed a law that weakened the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
It’s probably built with Kevlar or steel, is height adjustable, and includes the electronic displays and equipment. Then maybe they bought two or three of them from a contractor that has security clearance.
Or it’s just a cheap one that had its price jacked up for no reason. Had they not fudged the numbers and included a build list that had redactions on it, it wouldn’t be a big deal.